When the 116th Congress heads to Washington in January, there will be a record number of women in the ranks — at least 123, according to the news website Axios, including the first Muslim women, the first Somali-American, and the first Native American women. There will be more scientists too. On Tuesday, at least eight new science-credentialed candidates were elected: one senator and seven members of the House. Jacky Rosen, a computer programmer who positioned herself as a moderate Democrat, beat her Republican opponent, Dean Heller, in the US Senate race in Nevada.Chrissy Houlahan, an industrial engineer, Democrat, and Air Force veteran, won the House seat in Pennsylvania's 6th District.In South Carolina Joe Cunningham, an ocean scientist, defeated the Republican hopeful Katie Arrington. Sean Casten, a biochemical engineer, defeated Rep. Peter Roskam, the Republican incumbent, in Illinois.Elaine Luria, a nuclear engineer, won her House seat in Virginia. In Illinois' 14th District, Lauren Underwood, a registered nurse, unseated Randy Hultgren. The only new Republican scientist in Congress so far is Oklahoman Kevin Hern, a former aerospace engineer and businessman who handily beat his Democratic challenger.